Much attention has focused on learning styles and their impact on the teaching and learning process; however, little has been done to systematically incorporate learning style theory into actual teaching, nor to systematically examine its potential impact on student learning in higher education. As part of a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning…

Describes a teaching model that uses learning styles. Five elements of learning styles are discussed: (1) environmental; (2) emotional; (3) sociological; (4) physiological; and (5) psychological. Describes using the learning styles assessment in the classroom. The study revealed that when students were taught tactually and kinesthetically rather…

Analyzes three common learning style inventories (LSIs)-- 4MAT System, Dunn's LSI, and Renzulli and Smith's LSI--matching them to the most compatible teaching strategies. The paper presents tables to help teachers select the most appropriate teaching strategies, makes suggestions for selecting and designing LSIs, and discusses practical…

The eight chapters of this book present tools to identify and resolve learning style conflicts. Chapter 1 discusses the philosophical foundations of education in the United States and other countries. Chapter 2 explains why identifying and accommodating learning styles is important, using case studies of unsuccessful students in real classroom…

Research shows that student motivation and performance improves when instruction is adapted to student learning preferences and styles. Educators have a responsibility to understand the diversity of their students and to present information in a variety of ways in order to accommodate all learners' preferences. Several learning styles theories…

Reviews research on two approaches to learning-style-based education and cautions readers to closely examine the various assertions made by researchers in this field. (WD)

To develop an educational program that works for every student, it is important to consider that learning style differences do exist and that learning style matching can positively affect achievement. Methods to help teachers assess student preferences are discussed. (DF)

4MAT is an 8-step, sequential instructional model based on two theoretical constructs: Kolb's model of learning styles and the concept of brain hemisphericity. The model, developed by B. McCarthy (1987), is derived by interacting each of Kolb's four quadrants with both left and right brain. Kolb outlined four learning styles based on the four…

Instructors seeking to practice learner-centered principles of teaching have several tools at their disposal. This paper summarizes four approaches to help students become more aware of their own psychological functioning and how it shapes their learning. Journal writing induces students to reflect and connect course concepts to past or present…

An exploration of the learning style differences between residents and faculty in a pediatric medical department resulted in a comparison of specialist and generalist orientations and the implications the differences might have for generalist education. The Kolb Learning Style Inventory was administered to 17 residents and 22 faculty members in a…

This paper examines the importance of culturally-specific learning styles within the context of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990. The Act posits that all students can learn, that students learn differently, and that students learn better when they are taught utilizing their preferred learning modalities. A review of the literature…